You Can’t Spin Your Way Out of Bad Behavior – Boeing & Wells Fargo
By Bruce Hennes, CEO, Hennes Communications On September 11, 2001, the world changed. The terrorist attack on the U.S. altered American politics and propelled us into a foreign war, changing government surveillance, our travel habits and even the architecture of our buildings. On a micro-level, it also changed Hennes Communications. For the previous 12 years, […]
Thom Fladung, Managing Partner of Hennes Communications, Talks On-the-Record
Hear Thom Fladung, managing partner of Hennes Communications, talk to the Portage County Safety Council about crisis management here. Hope you agree it’s worth the listen.
When an Alumnus With a Mike Says Something Offensive
Cornell University officials acted instantly when an honoree at an event used a word considered by many to be offensive. Many present were upset but praised the university for not ignoring what happened. The article below, from Inside Higher Ed, details steps taken by the university to address the issue. We believe you’ll also find […]
Tell the Truth & Tell It First
Can best practices for a garden center help your business or organization? It sure can. Read below. From GardenCenterMag.com: From local newspaper and television stories to social media reviews, coverage of your independent garden center sways the opinions of consumers interested in your store. When press is positive, everyone basks in the warmth. But when […]
The New Law of Litigation Communications: Your Case Will Now Be Heard – On Facebook
By Thom Fladung, Managing Partner, Hennes Communications The Court of Public Opinion is now in session. In fact, it’s always in session – on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media outlets. The practice of litigation communications or litigation public relations is young, as legal and communications matters go, emerging in the early 1980s, according to […]
Today’s Q&A: “No Comment”
How do you handle the situation where you’re dealing with a client whose attorney doesn’t want to issue a statement other than, “No Comment”? [By Stephanie York, JD, Hennes Communications] As an attorney, I understand the knee-jerk instinct to say “We don’t comment on pending litigation.” When we are faced with attorneys who counsel their […]
Jeff Bezos & The Enquirer: Extortion or Just Negotiations? That Slippery Slope
From our good friends at Thompson Hine, attorneys Tom Fehrer and Karen Rubin: Last week the media was abuzz with the allegations made against the National Enquirer by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the owner of The Washington Post. The details in Bezos’ blog post about his ongoing dispute with the Enquirer and […]
How to Say ‘I’m Sorry,’ Whether You’ve Appeared in a Racist Photo, Harassed Women or Just Plain Screwed Up
Written by Lisa Leopold, Associate Professor of English Language Studies, The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Middlebury. “I’m sorry.” These two words may seem simple, but the ability to express them when you’re in the wrong is anything but – particularly for those in the public eye. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, to […]
School Shooting PR Consultant Apologizes After Calling Critics ‘Crazies’ and Reporter ‘Skanky’
From the Sun Sentinel: crisis public relations consultant created a crisis of her own for the Broward school district, after a video came to light in which she dismissed the district’s critics in the Parkland massacre as “crazies” and called a reporter a “skanky” “jerk” who “smells bad.” Sara Brady, who was paid nearly $75,000 to assist […]
Disbarment for Anonymous On-Line Posts Should “Send a Message,” Says LA Supreme Court
From our friend and colleague, Karen Rubin, attorney at Thompson Hine in Cleveland, Ohio: Do we need another reminder about the perils of posting internet comments on cases and matters we are connected with? Apparently we do, and here’s a strong one. Earlier this month, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana was […]